The people of Isreal convinced themselves time and time again that God would not punish them for their sins. They believed they were safe and some thought that God was not even paying attention. Even their so-called prophets would stand up and tell them no punishment would come for their lives of sin.
Jeremiah 5:12 (ESV)
12 They have spoken falsely of the Lord
and have said, ‘He will do nothing;
no disaster will come upon us,
nor shall we see sword or famine.
Lamentations 2:14 (ESV)
14 Your prophets have seen for you
false and deceptive visions;
they have not exposed your iniquity
to restore your fortunes,
but have seen for you oracles
that are false and misleading.
Hosea 7:2 (ESV)
2 But they do not consider
that I remember all their evil.
Now their deeds surround them;
they are before my face.
Micah 3:11 (ESV)
11 Its heads give judgment for a bribe;
its priests teach for a price;
its prophets practice divination for money;
yet they lean on the Lord and say,
“Is not the Lord in the midst of us?
No disaster shall come upon us.”
Yet generation after generation was always punished for their actions. Not one of them was able to escape the wrath of the Lord that they brought on themselves through their sinful behavior. In a way, it was a never-ending cycle. Where one generation would fall the next would turn back to God and then the next would fall again.
Sadly this cycle has yet to be broken. It just finds itself on a personal level now and not at a national level. Christians today still find ways to convince themselves that God will not punish them for their sins. But that is simply not what we are taught in scripture.
Of course, we are not referring to sins committed before receiving salvation. Those are covered through forgiveness, repentance, and baptism. Nor are we referring to the occasional fall to sin that takes place in every Christian life. Where the transgressor immediately realizes their sin, repents, and seeks forgiveness.
1 John 1:9 (ESV)
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Ephesians 1:7 (ESV)
7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,
1 John 2:1 (ESV)
2 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
This article is in reference to the misguided belief that someone can continue to live a sinful lifestyle and still receive salvation. That God never expects us to stop sinning but is still willing to save those who keep on sinning.
The Bible is clear that all those who continue to live in sin will not enter the kingdom of God but will receive punishment. In fact, those who live a righteous life and later turn back to sin will not even be saved by their previous good deeds.
1 Corinthians 6:9–10 (ESV)
9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.
Ezekiel 33:13 (ESV)
13 Though I say to the righteous that he shall surely live, yet if he trusts in his righteousness and does injustice, none of his righteous deeds shall be remembered, but in his injustice that he has done he shall die.
The Apostle Paul wanted to be sure that Christians would understand that sin would be punished. So he even asked the question in one of his letters just so he could point out that Christians cannot keep on sinning.
Romans 6:1–2 (ESV)
1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?
Romans 6:15–16 (ESV)
15 What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! 16 Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?
Don’t fall into the same false mindset that the Israelites did and believe God will not punish you for your sins. God will always meet unrighteousness with punishment. You can see in the above verse that sin leads to death even though we don’t live under the law anymore.
God is a just judge and He will sentence all those who have not lived according to His word to hell. Even if others tell you that you will not receive punishment for your actions after salvation don’t believe them. Take the time to read God’s word and see for yourself that Christians cannot make a practice of sinning and that those who do will receive the punishment they deserve.
1 John 3:9 (ESV)
9 No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God.
Help us show others that they will receive punishment if they continue to live in sin after salvation by sharing this article on your social media. This is an important message that can have a great impact on the life of many who are still living in sin and don’t realize the consequences. But it can’t help them if they never see it. Thanks for your help in sharing and God Bless!
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